Santoor maestro Bhajan Sopori announces SaMaPa awards

New delhi, November 18: The prestigious SaMaPa awards for contribution to the field of music were announced here today by the Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori's music academy.

The awards, instituted by the Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts (SaMaPa), will be given during the 11th annual SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan starting on November 20, as a tribute to Indian and particularly Kashmiri culture.

The SaMaPa Vitasta Award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 50000, will be conferred upon veteran vocalists Pandit Rajan Mishra and Pandit Sajan Mishra for their lifetime contribution to Hindustani classical music.

Ravinder Kaul from Jammu and Kashmir will be awarded with the 'SaMaPa Acharya Abhinavgupt Samman' for his contribution to the field of art and culture as a critic and a journalist.

The prestigious 'SaMaPa Kala Vardhan Samman' will be awarded to NRI institute for its contribution towards the growth, development and promotion of Indian art and culture and connecting the Indian diaspora.

The 'SaMaPa Yuva Ratan' will be conferred upon Meeta Pandit, a younger generation vocalist for her contribution to Classical Music (Vocal).

The announcement of the awards was made by SaMaPa General Secretary and music maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori.